About Us

Starting with three employees in a rented facility, with borrowed funds, the clinic started its program of providing outpatient mental health services to the residents of Northeast Philadelphia. As time passed and the clinic expanded, a children unit was added in 1965.

Following the passage of the necessary state legislation in 1966, the clinic became the applicant agency to the state and federal governments for construction and staffing grants to fund what is now known as the Northeast Community Center for Behavioral Health. After several false starts, the clinic was awarded construction and staffing grants by the National Institute for Mental Health. This was followed by construction of the main facility, which began in April of 1969. In April 1970, a federal staffing grant was initiated and the new Northeast Community Center for Behavioral Health opened its doors to serve the people of Northeast Philadelphia.

The original clinic was founded in answer to a community need. It is important to note that the new center has not lost sight of the importance of this principle. Through all of its expansion, it has consistently endeavored to reflect the fact that it was built to serve the community. By sponsoring periodic community meetings, and selecting its board membership from the surrounding community, the center has continued in the tradition of its predecessor. And because of its unique relationship with other social and health agencies within the community, the center has consistently added dimensions to the resources of the community to expedite the solving of the many problems connected with mental health and intellectual disabilities.